Learning Guide RNSG
Complications of Pregnancy
Concurrent Disorders During Pregnancy
Diabetes:
1. Compare the effects of diabetes on the pregnancy and the effects of the
pregnancy on the diabetes.
2. Compare gestational diabetes to type 1 and 2 diabetes including
pathophysiology, signs and symptoms.
3. How is gestational diabetes diagnosed? (Know norms for lab tests) How
is it treated?
4. Explain the management and nursing care of the woman with diabetes
including:
a. dietary regulation – caloric intake and distribution
b. glucose monitoring
c. insulin administration – what are the expected fluctuations? What
should the nurse include in patient teaching.
5. What are the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia
and measures to correct.
Heart Disease:
6. What are the cardiac pathophysiological changes that occur in all
pregnant women?
7. Compare the effects of heart disease on pregnancy with the effects of
pregnancy on the woman’s preexisting heart condition.
8. What are the four Functional Classifications of Heart Disease and the
correlating signs and symptoms.
9. Review the symptoms of cardiac decompensation and drugs to prevent
10. What is important to be included in the patient teaching of the pregnant
woman with a heart disease including drug therapy – anticoagulants,
antidysrhythmics, antiinfectives.
11. How is the cardiac woman managed in intrapartum and postpartum?
Perinatal Infections:
12. Explain the Etiology / Pathophysiology, Risk Factors, signs and
symptoms related to the following TORCHA infections:
 T= Toxoplasmosis
 O= Other – gonorrhea, Chlamydia, syphilis, hepatitis, group B
strep
 R= Rubella
 C= Cytomegalovirus
 H= Herpes Type 2
 A=Aids
13.
Explain the following diagnostic tests including purpose, nursing care,
normal values, and interpretation of abnormal values. What is the goal
for the viral load and CD4 cell count?
 TORCH blood screen
 Elisa / western blot/ viral load / CD4 count
 Cultures
14. What is the treatment regime related to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy?
What are the recommendations for prevention of perinatal HIV infection
of the infant?
15. What is the patient teaching related to the TORCHA infections?
Fetal Demise:
16. Compare fetal demise with abortion considering etiology,
pathophysiology, signs and symptoms.
17. What is the treatment and nursing care for fetal demise? Explain use
of:
a. Prostaglandins
b. Pitocin
c. Psychological support
Substance Abuse:
18. What are the effects of alcohol and illicit drugs on the pregnant woman
and her fetus?
19. What is the patient teaching related to the woman with substance abuse?